IOW, sure they could try to sell add space on the Linux desktop, but
who would buy it? Oracle? Veritas?

Google? Expedia? ScottTrade? None of those is OS-specific, and all
would benefit from quick links on the desktop.
If the same-or-higher-priced Linux machines sell in appreciable
numbers, we'll hopefully start seeing add-ons available that can be
pre-loaded for advertising dollars. At that point, the difference in
price between Linux and Windows will really become apparent.
--
Michael A. Marsh
http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/~mmarshhttp://mamarsh.blogspot.com